Editorial: Beacon Hill stalemate stalls jobs

Wednesday

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2007 at 2:32 AM

Massachusetts leaders have made a rhetorical commitment to encouraging development of the life sciences industry, but the process of converting that into legislation has been painfully slow. The cost of that delay may be visible in Framingham, where the state's largest biotech employer is waiting for something more than encouraging words.

The MetroWest Daily News

Massachusetts leaders have made a rhetorical commitment to encouraging development of the life sciences industry, but the process of converting that into legislation has been painfully slow. The cost of that delay may be visible in Framingham, where the state's largest biotech employer is waiting for something more than encouraging words.

Genzyme already employs 1,650 workers in Framingham in 15 buildings in and around the Framingham Technology Park. It would like to add a 16th in 2009: A new building on New York Avenue where some converted warehouses now stand. The new facility would be 300,000 square feet - about the size of the company's Allston headquarters - and would add 300 jobs for a state that desperately needs them.

But the building would also require more water than Framingham's pipes and pumping capacity can now deliver. It will cost from $13 million to $14 million to deliver the water the Genzyme facility will need, an upgrade that isn't on Framingham's long list of infrastructure improvements.

This is exactly the kind of public investment that should be covered by Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed $1 billion life sciences initiative. But that legislation has been stalled by disagreements between Patrick and House Speaker Sal DiMasi.

Patrick has used unspecified imminent company decisions - presumably Genzyme and a proposed expansion by Shire Corp. in Lexington - to argue for quicker action on the life sciences bill. DiMasi has responded by suggesting projects be handled one at a time, with state leaders offering a memorandum of understanding with the companies, an offer Patrick has turned down.

Patrick is right to push a statewide initiative that includes economic development incentives and new programs in the public higher education system. A big initiative will help identify Massachusetts as a global center for life science research. DiMasi has a point as well: If a memorandum of understanding will allow a specific company to go forward with its plans while Patrick's bill works its way through the legislative process, let's get it written.

A report released today ranks Massachusetts 49th in number of jobs created between 2001 and 2006. If we are to turn that around, Beacon Hill's leaders must stop playing political games and deliver the consistent policies and infrastructure support growing businesses like Genzyme require.